Former youth leader sentenced for molesting boys

ELYRIA -- A former youth leader was sentenced to 10 years to life in Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge courtroom this morning after he pleaded guilty to molesting 11- and 12-year-old boys that attended his church in Cleveland.

Jeremy Pettry, 32, pleaded guilty in April to charges of rape, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and gross sexual imposition.

Families of the victims shared letters to the court during sentencing and Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Sherry Glass read letters from three of the victims.

There were about 12 boys who fell victim to Pettry, Glass said.

Advertisement

She added that Pettry worked at the Pearlbrook Church of God and would invite the boys on Saturdays to his home in North Ridgeville to play video games and watch movies. They would then go to church together on Sunday.

According to the indictment, the sexual misconduct took place between July 2004 and September 2008.